STUTTGART KEEN ON JOVANOVIC

Stuttgart are hoping to strike a deal to sign Serbia striker Milan Jovanovic from Belgian champions Standard Liege.

Stuttgart general manager Horst Heldt admits Jovanovic is being targeted to replace Mario Gomez, who has moved to Bayern Munich.

"The fact is Jovanovic interests us a lot," Heldt told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper.

The 28-year-old could cost around five million euros, leaving plenty of funds from the reported 30million euro sale of Gomez to invest in a further striker.

Hoffenheim's Demba Ba is tipped to be on his way to Stuttgart even though he has been told by his club he will not be going anywhere.

Heldt remains optimistic a solution can be found.

"All I can say is that we have a very friendly relationship with our neighbours from Hoffenheim and we place a lot of importance on this," he said.

"At the end of the day, there are a lot of people there who have a lot in common with us in that they were with VfB (Stuttgart) in the past."

Ba recently admitted he was seeking a new challenge away from Hoffenheim.

When Beckem goes, Rio goes, Stevie G goes, Owen goes... Then what? We have a bunch of spice boys in the team that love bling!

They are SH*T!

Ashley young will run round the italian defence and score 4 goals

GENT: PATO WON'T ASK FOR MOVE

Alexandre Pato will not demand a move away from AC Milan, according to his agent.

The Brazil international's future has become the subject of much debate in recent weeks, with a summer switch away from the San Siro widely touted.

Former Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti, who is now in charge at Chelsea, has been strongly linked with a move for his former starlet.

The Italian coach has made no secret of his admiration for the 19-year-old and has refused to rule out the possibility of lodging a bid.

However, with the Rossoneri having already parted company with former World Player of the Year Kaka, the club are reluctant to lose any more of their top players.

They are, therefore, determined to retain Pato's services and are prepared to snub any offers they may receive.

The forward appears to have accepted that decision after holding talks with the Milan hierarchy regarding the recent speculation.

"Pato is under contract with Milan, and the club is the one that decides his fate," Pato's agent Gilmar Veloz told Antenna3 Telelombardia.

"Publically speaking about his contract is not an issue, but it's our business."

WOW! Fantastic news you posted Andy, i love the football thread with all the ON TOPIC football news.. Funny how a Britney fan keeps reporting the thread.. Hmmm wonder why?

They are Morons


Jealous off our success we are the dominant thread off tibb

They have more posters then us but we contibute more to this glorious thread

Real Madrid in the Champions League is going to be Epic! Thats if they have Kaka and Ronaldo fully fit.

Wonder if messi would ever go to real madrid

Kaka ronaldo messi on same team

Liverpool will have new owners soon.

Everton will have Robben from real madrid now

OMG! kaka, Ronaldo and Messi?

The dream team! I remember that name for a basketball team in the 90s.. All the biggest names in one team.

VALENCIA: NO DEAL AGREED FOR VILLA

Valencia sporting director Fernando Gomez has denied media reports an agreement is already in place for David Villa to join Real Madrid.

Speculation in Spain has been rife over the last few days that Villa is on the verge of joining Florentino Perez's Madrid revolution, following in the footsteps of £56million signing Kaka and possibly Cristiano Ronaldo.

Reports in Spain on Saturdau even suggested Villa's switch to the Bernabeu had been finalised, but Gomez insists those are wide of the mark.

However, he did confirm talks were being held, although he gave no further details and did not say which team was involved.

"What has been published today is false," Gomez was quoted as saying on his club's website on Saturday afternoon, as Valencia confirmed the signing of midfielder Jeremy Mathieu from Toulouse.

"The negotiations are open and are being conducted personally by our president, Manuel Llorente."

FERGUSON GETS GO-AHEAD TO SPEND

Manchester United's transfer policy will not be affected by their debt mountain.

With a £650million debt to service, there were some fears that the Glazer family might use some of the £80million Real Madrid have pledged to pay for Cristiano Ronaldo against the interest at least.

However, manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been assured that will not be the case, allowing the Scot to pursue the likes of Antonio Valencia and Franck Ribery without worrying too much about the cost.

"Nothing that has happened over the past four years would lead you to believe the owners are not going to continue investing in the team," said a Glazer family spokesman.

"A substantial number of world-class players have been brought to the club in the past few years and that will still be the case."

While there is a general understanding of why the question is being asked, the Glazer family point to their record of backing Ferguson in the transfer market since their controversial takeover.

They insist that policy has not changed despite the ongoing credit crunch, which is having an impact on United's corporate ticket sales.

"The idea Manchester United are motivated by a debt burden is just not true," added the spokesman. "It is not an issue.

"The fact is Cristiano Ronaldo decided, after six years, it was time to move on and the manager said okay.

"Sir Alex Ferguson is in total control of his squad. He is empowered to make whatever decisions he thinks are in the best interests of Manchester United. That continues to be the case."

Given confirmation that US finance giant Aon are to become new shirt sponsors in 2010, a positive spin on the past two weeks would emphasise the removal of two areas of uncertainty, allowing the club to focus on what lies ahead free from the spectre of future problems.

"Two big issues have now been removed which, in its own way, is good for everyone," the spokesman added.

In any event, according to PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor, Ferguson will have let Ronaldo leave on the basis that Wayne Rooney is the man he really cannot afford to be without.

"It is an interesting question and a difficult decision but as an Englishman, if I was asked to make a choice between the two I would have Wayne Rooney," declared Taylor.

"Wayne has not been far away from being one of the best players in the world for a long time and certainly the way he finished off the season bodes well for Manchester United and England.

"Anyone would want a player of Cristiano Ronaldo's calibre in their team but I would certainly not view his departure as a backward step for Manchester United at all."

Picture
Mowbray - compensation package agreed.

MOWBRAY SET FOR CELTIC TALKS

Tony Mowbray is set to be unveiled as Celtic's new manager next week after the club agreed to meet West Brom's compensation demands.

West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace agreed to let Mowbray begin contract negotiations with Celtic after the Glasgow giants confirmed they would pay £2million for the former Hibernian boss.

The Baggies will receive additional payment from Celtic should they also lose coaches Mark Venus and Peter Grant.

Peace told West Brom's official website: "We do not want to lose Tony because he has been an integral part of a long-term project at the club which the vast majority of our fans have bought into.

"But Tony expressed his desire to talk to Celtic and now that the compensation figure in his contract has been met to our satisfaction that process can take place.

"If Tony decides to join Celtic he would leave with our good wishes and we would then immediately put into action the task of appointing a new manager who can take the club forward."

Celtic made Mowbray their preferred candidate to succeed Gordon Strachan, who resigned following the end of the season.

Mark McGhee opted to join Aberdeen from Motherwell this week because he was informed the Hoops had made their choice, and he was out of contention to succeed his friend Strachan.

Providing there are no further hitches, and the deal goes through quickly, Mowbray will have a fortnight before pre-season starts and he faces the first of possibly two tricky Champions League qualifiers at the end of July.

Former Celtic striker Frank McGarvey believes Mowbray has to "hit the ground running" when he arrives in Glasgow.

McGarvey, who played for Celtic between 1980 and 1985, thinks that the former Hibs boss will have his work cut out in quickly assembling a side who can win back the Clydesdale Bank Premier League title from Old Firm rivals Rangers and reach the lucrative group stages of the Champions League.

"Tony wouldn't have been my first choice but I hope he does very well for Celtic and for himself," said former Scotland striker McGarvey.

"He's a good guy but it is a big gamble by the Celtic board and not just because he's just had a team relegated.

"The Champions League qualifiers are looming and most Celtic fans will agree with me when I say that the team is not good enough and needs to be strengthened.

"Tony needs to bring in at least four players; two strikers to play with Scott McDonald, a midfielder who can create and a left-back.

"The thing is, Celtic are not seeded in the Champions League qualifiers so are good players going to take a chance in coming to Parkhead?

"And are the board going to give Tony the wages to pay them if they do?

"He's got all this to do in a month after he returns for pre-season training, so he has to hit the ground running."

Celtic would only confirm that talks with Mowbray are set to begin, with chairman John Reid telling the club's official website: "We can confirm that we have reached an agreement in principle with West Bromwich Albion Football Club and have been given permission to speak to Tony Mowbray and his backroom staff.

"These are complex but important negotiations and we can assure our supporters that we continue to aim to get the right man for the job in the right way."

It is unlikely that any hitches in negotiations will arise and Mowbray should be unveiled before the Scottish media early next week.

Do Everton have the funds?

Could sell lescott...

JOSE MAKES DECO ADMISSION

Inter Milan manager Jose Mourinho says he would welcome the chance to be reunited with Chelsea midfielder Deco.

The Portugal international, who has been strongly linked with a move to Inter, revealed on Thursday he wants to quit Chelsea following an indifferent first season in London.

Deco has done little to quell speculation about a proposed move to the Italian champions, hinting he would like to play under his compatriot at the Giuseppe Meazza and that Inter have already approached his employers.

The self-proclaimed 'Special One' has now intensified rumours of a move for Deco by claiming he would relish the chance to coach the ex-Barcelona star once again.

"I would be very satisfied to work with Deco again," he told Lusa. "I remember the good moments we had together, the good work we did and the victories we obtained.

"I helped Deco grow, but it was with players like him that I became the coach I am now.

"If it is possible for him to come to Inter and for us to work together again it would be something wonderful for both of us."

Following Deco out of the Stamford Bridge exit door could be centre-half Ricardo Carvalho, after he too expressed a desire to again work under Mourinho.

Like Deco, the accomplished Carvalho made his name with Mourinho at surprise 2004 UEFA Champions League winners Porto, before following his mentor to Chelsea.

And he has refused to rule out a third spell under the Inter chief: "I would love to be coached under Mourinho again.

"The majority of trophies I have won were with Mourinho. At Chelsea there is a new cycle happening so we will see what happens."

JOHNSON SET FOR POMPEY EXIT

Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie has admitted that the club have received a bid for Glen Johnson and that a deal could be concluded imminently.

The England international has enjoyed the best season of his career to date in starring for Portsmouth and in the process has established himself as Fabio Capello's first choice at right-back.

Former club Chelsea, who Johnson left to join Portsmouth, have been credited with making a bid, as have Manchester City and Liverpool, who in some reports are thought to be the front-runners for his signature.

Storrie admits he will not block the player from joining a club that will enable him to play in the UEFA Champions League next season.

He told Sky Sports News: "Glen has had a fantastic season for us and I think he is the best right-back in the country at the moment.

"I've know Glen a long while, from my West Ham days. When I re-signed him (at Portsmouth) we talked things over.

"He said, 'If one of the big four come in with Champions League football, would you stand in my way?'

"I told him I couldn't do that. Providing the deal is right for Portsmouth and Glen then we will look to try and do something in the right way.

"It is very hard to try and hold people back when they have a chance to play in the Champions League. I accept that."

When asked if an offer of between £15million and £18million had been tabled, Storrie replied: "You may not be a million miles away from the mark."

Storrie went on to concede that a deal could be struck imminently, adding: "I wouldn't think it would be too long."

I love football news

Bliss.

Celtic will crush Rangers next season.

Rangers are far to good now

Cant wait to watch them in the champions league

Celtic may not Qualify yet

Football news keeps the world intact, keeps it from evil..

Keeps it from vile scum